The case of missing siblings Lily and Jack Sullivan sits so close to my heart, having children around the same age.
It’s heartbreaking to think we’ve now reached the one-month mark with no answers or solid leads as to what happened to them.

Something that strikes me as odd in this case is how few people directly involved have spoken out, despite many in the community caring enough to advocate for the children.

Daniel’s mother and brother stayed on the property, yet never once spoke to the media — not even to share what they may have heard or seen that morning. Apparently, Daniel’s mother was taking a nap. But where was the brother?

The biological father has also remained silent and hasn’t seen or heard from the kids in months. His mother claims that Mallaya has been keeping the children away and won’t even tell them where they’re living.

We also never heard from a single teacher at the children’s school — Soul Springs Elementary. It’s concerning that the school didn’t make any post about the missing siblings until two days ago, when it became public that a community prayer vigil was being held for Jack and Lily.

Only then did they share a brief message:

“We are grateful that the community continues to bring awareness to the search for Jack and Lily. We were asked to share this event with the school community should people wish to participate.”

They turned off the comments on that post.

Some are saying that teachers are banned from speaking out publicly on sensitive matters like this — but we’ve seen in many other missing children cases that teachers, neighbors, and friends have spoken out. The silence in this case is alarming.

Daniel was present at the prayer vigil, along with the biological paternal grandmother. It was a beautiful vigil filled with candles, teddy bears, and the loving support of a community that refuses to give up on Jack and Lily. 

The disappearance of siblings Lily and Jack Sullivan continues to weigh heavily on the hearts of many, and for me, it feels especially personal. As a parent of children around the same age, I can’t help but place myself in that unimaginable position—wondering how anyone can endure such an ordeal. And yet, here we are, one month since the children were reported missing, with no answers and no solid leads. It’s heartbreaking.

What’s even more unsettling is the profound silence surrounding this case. It’s not just the lack of updates from investigators, but also the silence from those who were closest to the children—those who might hold valuable insight, if not answers. Many in the community have come forward to advocate for the children, to share their photos, and to raise awareness. But those who lived with them or had direct relationships have said almost nothing publicly. That silence speaks volumes.

Take Daniel Martell’s family, for instance. Daniel is the children’s stepfather and has been consistently vocal in the media, urging the public to come forward with any information. He has made it clear that he wants Jack and Lily found. But those who also lived on the same property—Daniel’s mother and brother—have not spoken at all. Despite being present in the home, neither has issued a statement, appeared in an interview, or even offered basic information about what they may have witnessed that morning. That lack of participation feels deeply strange.

Daniel’s mother was reportedly napping when the children went missing. That may well be true, but where was the brother? Why haven’t we heard from him? In a case like this, every detail matters, and silence can quickly begin to look like avoidance.

Then there’s the biological father, who, as far as the public knows, has also remained silent. We’ve heard from his mother, who claimed that Mallaya—Jack and Lily’s mother—had been keeping the children away from their paternal side of the family. She even said that they didn’t know where the children were living in the weeks before the disappearance. If that’s accurate, it raises major concerns. Estrangement in families can happen, but in a case like this, a missing parent figure not stepping forward to speak out for their children is unsettling.

Adding to the silence is the lack of public statements from the children’s school, Soul Springs Elementary. In many other cases of missing children, we’ve seen schools become active participants in the search—posting tributes, supporting the family, and helping to keep the children’s names in the spotlight. For weeks, Soul Springs Elementary said nothing. Only two days ago—nearly a full month after Jack and Lily were reported missing—did the school finally acknowledge the situation publicly. And it wasn’t a heartfelt statement or tribute. It was simply a brief post announcing a community prayer vigil:

“We are grateful that the community continues to bring awareness to the search for Jack and Lily. We were asked to share this event with the school community should people wish to participate.”

Comments were disabled on the post. There was no personal reflection from any teacher. No mention of the children’s personalities, their friendships, or how much they were missed. It felt impersonal, cold, and—frankly—shocking. These were two young students who vanished. Their school community should be one of the loudest voices calling for their return.

Some have argued that school staff are prohibited from commenting publicly on active investigations involving students. While that may be a policy in some districts, we’ve seen teachers and school administrators speak in similar cases elsewhere. Often, their words provide comfort and help generate momentum in keeping a child’s case visible. Their silence here doesn’t sit right.

All of this has left the public—and especially the local community—feeling like something is off. People want to help, but they’re also left wondering: Why is everyone so quiet?

In the midst of that silence, one event did break through. The prayer vigil for Jack and Lily was a rare and beautiful moment of unity. Held just days ago, the vigil brought people together in a peaceful, emotional gathering filled with candles, teddy bears, and messages of hope. Among those present was Daniel Martell, along with the children’s paternal grandmother. Their presence was important, and it showed that there are still people close to the children who are refusing to give up.

The vigil also served as a reminder that the community cares deeply. While official channels may remain frustratingly tight-lipped, ordinary people are stepping up. They are putting up posters, organizing events, and doing whatever they can to keep Jack and Lily from being forgotten.

It’s that contrast—the tireless efforts of strangers versus the silence from key people in the children’s lives—that’s so difficult to reconcile. Where is the urgency from those closest to them? Where are the passionate pleas for help? At a time when every second counts, and every voice could make a difference, the quiet feels louder than any words.

We are approaching a critical point in this investigation. As more time passes, hope becomes harder to cling to—but it’s not gone. Children have been found alive after weeks, even months, under unimaginable circumstances. But the key to those outcomes is always the same: visibility, pressure, and the unrelenting will to bring them home.

In the case of Jack and Lily Sullivan, we still don’t know what happened. We don’t know if they wandered off, if they were taken, or if something more sinister occurred. But what we do know is that silence doesn’t help them. Whether it’s fear, guilt, confusion, or legal strategy keeping people from speaking out, the children deserve better. They deserve a chorus of voices calling for their safe return, not a void of indifference.

So many people who never met Jack and Lily now carry their story in their hearts. We won’t stop caring. We won’t stop asking questions. And we won’t stop hoping that someone, somewhere, will speak—and finally bring answers to a case that has left far too many in the dark.